Consecrate yourself unto the Lord through extended prayer and fasting.

Posts tagged ‘vegan’

Originally developed in the late 1800’s by Swiss nutritionists, museli is a delightful cereal made of whole grains, dried fruits, nuts and seeds. It’s easy to make (1/2 cup museli with 1/2 cup water, bring to a boil and then simmer for 2-5 minutes).

I use Bob’s Red Mill Old Country Style Museli which is an Oregon company, so I am not sure if it available all over the country (I live in Washington State). But there are other companies that make museli if you can’t find Bob’s.

Museli is also great as a cold cereal with soy milk or applesaucse. I like mine cooked and plain, somtimes with a little soy milk.

I know many of you are in the process of collecting recipes and making decisions about how you will prepare meals during the Daniel Fast. Actually, that’s why I wrote The Daniel Fast Cookbook.

But even with the cookbook, there will be times when you prepare other recipes. You will need to decide what it “okay” on the Daniel Fast and what isn’t. So I wanted to write a few keys to help you as you make your decisions.

You will probably need to cook a vast majority of your meals “from scratch.” That’s because so many of the prepared foods include sugar and chemicals, which are both no-no’s on the Daniel Fast.

READ THE LABELS. You will likely be amazed, and maybe even a bit discouraged, as you try to find prepared foods that are sugar-free and chemical-free. And this is why in point #1 I said you will likely prepare most of your meals from scratch. But make sure you read the labels.

Use frozen vegetables. Obviously, you will increase your use of vegetables on the Daniel Fast. The good news is that the vegetables found in the frozen food cases are usually totally free from any chemicals and they are more nutritious than most vegetables found in the produce section (that’s because fruits and vegetables lose their vitamins and minerals the longer they are separated from their vine or branch – wow, there’s a spiritual truth in that statement – and when the foods are flash frozen within only a few hours from harvesting, they retain more of their food value). Frozen fruits and vegetables are also “ready to go.” They are washed, trimmed, sliced and diced and ready for you to do your creative work on them to make them even better!

Generally, if a food is a fruit or vegetable and free from sugar or chemicals, it is okay for the Daniel Fast. Make sure you review the Daniel Fast Food List and then make a call.

Beans, rice and tofu are great sources of protein. The Daniel Fast is a great time to find new recipes that may become family favorites. There are millions of people in the world who eat foods consistent with the Daniel Fast as their core diet. Look for Asian, Latin, and East Indian recipes and you will find many are appropriate for the Daniel Fast with just a few variations.

You will find that if you make your recipes more flavorful the servings will be more filling! This is not only a great strategy for the Daniel Fast, but also for anytime as it helps with portion control (a big issue in Super Size It America). I like this recipe for that very reason. A simple green bean and lots of flavor! Yumm!

Daniel Fast Blog Friend Kimberly adds: “I make this recipe all year and my ten year old eats them as fast as I can make them. I have found though, that the secret ingredient that can make all the diference, is sesame oil! Just a couple of shakes about a minute before they come out of the pan. It’s wonderful!”

Another question I get is about natural sweeteners on the Daniel Fast, including honey and maple syrup.

The Daniel Fast is based on the fasting experiences of the prophet in Daniel 1 and in Daniel 10, along with typical Jewish fasting principles. In Daniel 10:3 we learn this: “I ate no pleasant or desirable food, nor did any meat or wine come into my mouth; and I did not anoint myself at all for the full three weeks.”

From this verse is the boundary on sweeteners. So no sweeteners are allowed on the Daniel Fast, including honey, sugar, agave nectar, cane juice or the like.

Pray about the fast and how the Lord would call you to restrict foods. His guidance should be your final decision.

The primary purpose of the Daniel Fast is not to lose weight or improve your physical health. Rather, the Daniel Fast is like all other fasts –refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. If you are entering the fast without a spiritual intent, then you are going on a “diet.” Nothing wrong with diets! But a diet is not a fast, even though the terms seem to be synonymous these days. Fasting is a spiritual exercise that involves the abstention of food. The Daniel Fast is a “partial fast” since one does not refrain from eating, but rather from eating specific foods, but still for a spiritual purpose.

With that said, the Daniel Fast is what I like to call “the whole body experience.” Why? Because while you will gain in your spirit and your soul from the Daniel Fast, you will surely improve your body’s health, as well. That’s because the foods on the Daniel Fast are easy on the body and allows is to function in an optimum manner.

You can review the Food List for the Daniel Fast and see foods to eat include only fruits, vegetables, and water. Foods to avoid completely are sugar, processed foods, dairy products, caffeine, and alcohol and of course, meat. These are all foods that hinder the body from optimum health.

While on the Daniel Fast, your body will experience a certain level of detoxification. It will purge itself of many of the impurities and toxins in its system. While the first few days you might feel a little sluggish, you will most likely experience an increase of energy in the second week.

As you plan your Daniel Fast menus, consider the health benefits of the foods you include.

Here are just some of the benefits from specific foods:

ArtichokesArtichokes contain plant compounds known as caffeoylquinic acids, which increase the flow of bile and help to digest fats.

BeansBeans are an excellent source of protein and actually one of the best foods to cleanse your colon and aid digestion.

BeetsBeets contain betaine, which promotes the regeneration of liver cells and the flow of bile. It also has a beneficial effect on fat metabolism.

BroccoliBroccoli and other members of the brassica family (cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi) support the liver’s detoxification enzymes.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Food sources of vitamin C and glutathione, which are essential for detox.

Protein
Protein is required by the liver for detox. Beans, nuts, seeds, and quinoa. are just a few that you can add to your menus.

Onions and GarlicOnions and garlic are rich in sulfur-containing compounds. Involved in sulfation, the main detox pathway for environmental chemicals and certain drugs and food additives. Helps with the elimination of harmful heavy metals from the body.

About Susan Gregory and The Daniel Fast

The Daniel Fast is a method of fasting and based on the fasting experiences of the Old Testament prophet Daniel.

Susan Gregory started writing about the fast when she responded to a word from the Lord. Since that time she has become the leading source for information about the Daniel Fast and has a personal call to "serve God by serving His people." Her desire is to help men and women experience a successful fast as they grow in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Susan is the author of "The Daniel Fast: feed your soul, strengthen your spirit and renew your body" which is available from local and online bookseller or from http://Daniel-Fast.com